The war between Russia, Ukraine and other countries has now lasted 100 days with no sign of an end.
This war has had devastating consequences, with thousands of people killed on both sides. Many civilians from Ukraine were also among the casualties. Whole cities in Ukraine have been destroyed and Russia is under severe sanctions.
Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes due to the conflict, including two-thirds (or more) of the country’s children. According to the United Nations refugee agency, this is the worst human displacement crisis in the world. Many people are being forced to flee the country while others flee to safer places.
Despite the terrible circumstances, people are still returning to Ukraine. The violence is becoming more concentrated in the east and south of the country.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2004, nearly 7 million people have crossed into Ukraine through UNHCR’s refugee agency. More than 2 million people have now crossed into Ukraine.
Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency states that “in recent weeks more people have returned to Ukraine than left the country,”
According to Ryan Lucas of NPR, Kyiv, both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries have achieved some success after months of conflict.
“Russia’s first attack on Kyiv was stopped by Ukraine in the early weeks. Ukraine then repelled all Russian troops from the capital.
“Russia has since regrouped, and is now focusing its efforts on eastern and southern Ukraine where it has had more success. Russian troops have taken control of large areas of the south, including Mariupol. This city was resisting a fierce Russian attack for several weeks before finally falling. Russian troops are slowly making gains in the eastern Donbas region through a slow artillery battle.
The United Kingdom’s Defense Ministry created an animation map showing the first large-scale Russian incursions. This was followed by Ukrainian gains, and a shift towards the east.
Half of Russia’s invasion of northern Ukraine was a costly failure. Russia did not follow its own principles. Russia failed to implement its own principles of war due to the low combat readiness of many units. It spread its forces too thinly and did not have enough support from artillery or combat aircraft. pic.twitter.com/wujUf41NXd
Ordinary citizens have suffered a great deal from the war. According to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, 4,183 civilians were killed in the conflict, 268 of them children, and over 5,000 people were injured or lost since the beginning of the invasion.
According to the OHCHR agency, the OHCHR believes that the actual figures are higher due to delays in reporting and confirmation.